Mounting for combination air cleaner and carburetor silencer



June 19, 1951 J. B. SEBOK 2,557,236

MOUNTING FOR COMBINATION AI LEANER AND CARBURETER SILENC Filed May 24, 1946 88 I W 2 334. G I l Patented June 19, 1951 MOUNTING FOR COMBINATION AIR CLEANER AND CARBURETOR SILENCER Joseph B. Sebok, Detroit, Mich., assignor to Houdaille-Hcrshey Corporation, Detroit, Mich, a

corporation of Michigan Application May 24, 1946, Serial No. 672,068

10 Claims.

This invention relates to improvements in a.

mounting for a combination air cleaner and carburetor silencer, or to a mounting for a carburetor silencer only in the event an air cleaner is not desired, the invention being highly desirable for use in connection with an internal combustion engine of the automotive type, although the invention may be used with air compressors and other mechanism needing a supply of air, and will have other uses and purposes as will be apparent to one skilled in the art.

' In the past, it has been necessary to design a different carburetor silencer for each different automotive engine, regardless of the fact that the engines may be approximately of the same horsepower and have approximately the same operating characteristics. Each engine, however, would develop a predominant noise in the intake manifold that must be silenced that was different in wave length from the noise developed in another engine. A change made in an engine re sulted in a change in that predominant intake noise and required the designing of a new silencer to take care of that particular engine after changing. Where a combination air cleaner and silencer was utilized, the problem was multiplied, even though the particular air cleaner might have a capacity range to accommodate any one of several different engines. New dies had to be employed, however, for the redesigning and construction of the silencer and in connecting that newly designed silencer with the air cleaner to form an integral unit, the diiiiculties owing to the redesigning of the silencer were materially augmented. The work entailed in the redesigning of the silencer, and the enormous expense in providing new dies for the body portion of the structure as well as other retooling, were highly objectionable.

For example, a certain air cleaner might be satisfactory as to efliciency, restriction, and capacity for any one of four or five different makes of automotive engines. However, each one of those engines would have a predominant tone that must be silenced different than the other engines, and so far different that it was without the relatively limited frequency range of a silencer suitable for any one of the other engines. But redesigning was essential for the silencer for each of the engines that might all use the same air cleaner.

With the foregoing in mind, it is an important object of the instant invention to provide a mounting for a carburetor silencer or a combination air cleaner and carburetor silencer 2 which mounting may be very economically made in various sizes and enable the same silencer or the same combination air cleaner and silencer to satisfactorily operate with different automotive engines.

with only a moderate manufacturing expense,

so that the same silencer or the same combination air cleaner and silencer may be used with various engines.

Another feature of this invention is the provision of a novel and economical mounting for a silencer or a combination air cleaner and silencer which mounting may be left on the carburetor of the engine when the air cleaner is serviced.

A further feature of the invention resides in the provision of a mounting device for a silencer or a combination air cleaner and silencer which may be easily and economically altered at the manufacturing plant to vary the tuning of the silencer so that the silencer will be effective through a different range of frequencies.

Also an object of the invention resides in the provision of a mounting device for a silencer or a combination air cleaner and silencer that may be simply changed as to dimensions in any one of several different ways, or in a combination of ways and locations depending upon manufacturing expediency and economy so that the same silencer will operate satisfactorily with different makes of automotive engines.

It is also an object of this invention to provide a mounting device for an air cleaner or a combination air cleaner and silencer which requires no additional space, and requires only one simple extra operation at the time of installation of the silencer or cleaner and silencer, and thereafter the mounting device permits even easier servicing of the cleaner than with many cleaners now known.

One of the prime features of the instant invention resides in the fact that with the use of drawing, in which Figure 1 is a part elevational, part vertical sectional view of a combination air cleaner and carburetor silencer in operative association with a mounting device embodying principles of the instant invention;

Figure 2 is a bottom plan view of the structure of Figure 1; and

Figure 3 is a central vertical sectional view, with parts in elevation, of a mounting device itself of different dimensions than the mounting device seen in Figure 1 to illustrate the simplicity of alterations necessary to make the cleaner and silencer of Figure 1 function satisfactorily with a different engine.

As shown on the drawings; 7

The illustrated embodiment of this invention is shown associated with a combination air cleaner and carburetor silencer unit. This unit includes a liquid bath air cleaner of the so-called hat type for use with a down-draft carburetor. The air cleaner embodies a casing section I of which the upper portion is substantially cylindrical, and the lower part is stepped-in to define aisump 2 for cleansing liquid. Inwardly of the sump, the casing section is shaped to accommodate a gasket 3 and is then rolled inwardly as at 1 to define an outlet for clean air. Another casing section is removably associated with that above described, and includes a filter holding shell and a central outlet conduit The lower portion of the shell 5 is turned inward- 1M0 form an apertured bottom I and the inner end thereof is secured to the conduit 6. Inside the filter holding shell, that is, between it and the conduit 6, is a mass, of filtering material 8 of any. suitable character. The shell 5 is of less diameter than the cylindrical portion of the lower casing section I, so as to define an annular air inlet passage 9 therebetween, and a number of spacing elements Ill may be connected with the lower part ofthe shell 5, to rest upon one of the steps; in the lower casing section so as to maintain an adequate width of air path at all times. A cover- II is secured to the shell 5, and this cover'is preferably lined with a sound deadening element 12 which may be belt or any other suitable material. This silencing element I2 is designed to take care of soundsof relatively high frequency under the absorption principle.

A silencing arrangement is associated with the cleaner and includes a pair of casing sections it and M lock-seamed together as indicated at !5. The upper portion of the section i3 is made cylindrical and welded or equivalently secured to the upper portion of the cleaner casing section I as, indicated at l6. A rolled margin H provides a .smooth inlet for entering air.

The section I4 is stepped inwardly in the central bottom portion as indicated at is to provide a Open recess for the reception of the mounting device. The upper portion of this recessed bottom I8 is shouldered as at l9 to seat upon a gasket 20, and the part l9 defines a central opening for reception of the mounting device. The

' casing parts I3 and i4 define-an inner resonating orattenuating chamber 2| of relatively large volume forthe silencing or attenuating of lower frequency noises.

Itshould be noted that in the upper portion of the recess part of the casing piece Id one portion isdeepened inwardly as at 22 on one side only to. provide space for the clamping portion of the mounting device. This arrangement permits ample room for the mounting device without increasing the over-all diameter of the combination air cleaner and silencer, and without adding to the height of this mounted unit.

My novel mounting device is economically fabricated from a plurality of parts. The mounting device includes a lower cylindrical skirt 23 which may be made of the proper diameter to fit over a carburetor intake. This part is preferably provided with slots 24 at spaced intervals therearound, and circumscribing the part is a clamp ring 25, the ends of which are turned outwardly as indicated at 26 to accommodate a bolt and nut arrangement 21 by means of which the ends may be drawn together to tighten the rin and clamp the skirt 23 around the carburetor intake. The upper marginal portion of the skirt 23 is turned inwardly as at 28 to provide a rest for the aforesaid gasket 20, and then this marginal portion is turned upwardly as at 29 in Figure 3 and welded, brazed, or equivalently secured to a cylindrical tube 3!] which, in the form of the invention seen in Figure 1, is provided with a plurality of elongated apertures 3|. The upper marginal portion of this cylindrical element 39 is turned inwardly to provide a seat for anannular gasket 32, and then turned upwardly and welded or equivalently secured to a cylindrical conduit 33 which defines an open space 34 between itself and the cylindrical member 30.

Inside the conduit 33 is a transversely extending Z-bar 35 to which may be welded or equivalently secured to the flattened lower end of a rod 36 extending through the outlet passage of the cleaner, and threaded at its upper end to accommodate a thumb nut 3'1. This rod holds all of the parts of the cleaner and silencer unit together as well as holding them securely in position upon the mounting member.

At the time an installation is made, the mounting device itself is first secured over the carburetor intake, and it will be noted that the cylindrical element 30 extends downwardly below the inturned margin 28 of the skirt 23 to provide.

an annular socket 38 (Figure 3) for the reception of the upper end of the carburetor intake. The entire mounting device is firmly secured to the carburetor intake by the actuation of the bolt and nut 2'1 to clamp the ring 25 around the skirt and squeeze the skirt around the in-. take. When the mounting device is so attached, the gaskets 28. and 32 are placed in position upon. the mounting device. Then the lower separable casing section of. the carburetor and silencer unit, including the casing section I defining the liquid sump, and the parts l3 and I4 defining the attenuating chamber are seated over the mounting device with the respective parts thereof resting upon the gaskets 20 and 32 so as to establish air-tight sealsat these locations. The upper filter carrying portion may then be seated in position upon the inside gasket 3. The upper end of the rod 36 projects through a suitable aperture in the cover, and upon; tightening of the thumb nut 3?- the entire assembly is firmly held in position. When it is required to service the cleaner, it is a simple expedient to loosen the thumb nut 31', remove the cleaner parts separately, leaving the mounting device remain in position upon the carburetor intake.

In operation, air is drawn through the cleaner by virtue of the suction developed in the internal combustion engine with which the cleaner is associated. This air passes down through the inlet passage 9, is commingled with sump liquid, passes upwardly through the filter mass 8', and

descends through the outlet conduit 8, and the conduit 33 of the mounting device into the carburetor intake. Sound waves develop in the engine, pass in reverse direction through the carburetor intake, enter the passageway 34, and pass through the openings 3| into the attenuating chamber 2! where these sounds are neutralized. The predominant tone or sound developed in the intake manifold of an engine is usually of a relatively low wave length, and that predominating sound will be effectively attentuated by the chamber 2| which, of course, is what is commonly known as a resonator. High pitched sounds, or those of very high frequencies, will beattenuated to a satisfactory degree by the lining l2 inside the cover II.

I The'attenuating chamber may be considered as beginning at the lower end of the passage or space 34, and any variance in the length of this space, in its width, or in the size of the openings 3! changes the tuning of the attenuating chamber. As the structure is seen in Figure 1, with the conduit terminating substantially even with the lower end of the cylindrical member 39 and with the openings 3| of the size illustrated, a certain sound will be attenuated. That same sound will not be effectively attenuated by the structure seen in Figure 3, wherein a cylindrical outlet element 33a is utilized which terminates short of the lower end of the cylindrical member 39. Thus, in this instance, the passage or space 3-40. is reduced in length. Likewise, the openings em in the cylindrical element 3i are larger than the openings 3i seen in Figure 1, and so there is another variance in the tuning of the attenuating chamber. Thus, it may be seen that the structure of Figure 3 is tuned to attenuate a diiierent noise or sound than the structure of Figure 1, but in establishing means for attenuating these two different sounds, it was not necessary to change thelconstruction of the combination air cleaner and silencer unit in any respect whatever. Such changing in the tuning of the attenuating chamber may be accomplished sufiiciently in certain cases by merely reducing the length of the conduit 33, in some cases by increasingthe diameter of the cylindrical element 36 so as to widen the space 34 between it and the conduit 33, and in other cases by merely enlarging the size of the openings 31; or, a combination of one or more such changes in dimension maybe desirable depending upon the degree of tuning required. Any such variations in sizes of the parts going to make up the mounting device are far more economical than a variation or change in contour of the attenuating chamber 2! which would require a reshaping of the casing parts I3 and I4 and a considerable expense of retooling. Such a shaping, if in a silencer attached to an air cleaner as i1- lustrated in Figure 1, would most frequently cause a change in the casing structure of the air cleaner itself, as well. Redesigning is substantially eliminated by the instant invention in order to accommodate the silencer already available and already under manufacture for a different engine, because an adjustable device of the character of the mounting device hereinabove set forth might be used in the laboratory to establish the degree of change necessary to properly tune the silencer for the prominent noise emanating from the different engines. It would then only be necessary to merely build a mounting device in accordance with the dimensions established by the adjusting of the test device.

From the foregoing, it is apparent that I have provided a novel mounting device for a carburetor silencer, the construction of which may be economically varied at the manufacturing plant so as to render a certain design and size of silencer construction adaptable for any one of a relatively large number of different engines, and no expensive changes or redesigning are necessary in connection with the silencer construction itself. It should further be noted that the mounting structure costs only a negligible amount more than the corresponding outlet arrangement and carburetor connection means employed with silencers heretofore known and which mounting arrangements could not be economically altered. It should also be noted that the instant invention includes only one added operation, namely, a simple installing operation, and after it is once connected with the carburetor intake, there is no reason for removing it during the lifetime of the silencer, or the lifetime of the combination air cleaner and silencer unit, as the case may be.

It will, of course, be understood that various details of construction may be varied through a wide range without departing from the principles of this invention and it is, therefore, not the purpose to limit the patent granted hereon otherwise than necessitated by the scope of the appended claims.

I claim as my invention:

1. In an individual mounting device for an intake silencer, a plurality of concentric tubular members connected together with a space between adjacent members and one of which members is for engagement with an intake conduit, and another of said members having an opening in its wall for communication with the interior of a silencer, and certain of said members having shoulder formations to removably support a silencer thereon.

2. In a mounting device for an intake silencer, a plurality of concentric tubular members one of which is for engagement with an intake conduit, and another of said members having an opening in its wall for communication with the interior of a silencer, and connections between said members closing the spaces between adjacent members at the top thereof, certain of said members having shoulder formations to removably support a silencer thereon.

3. In a mounting device for an intake silencer, a plurality of concentric tubular members connected together and the larger of which is arranged for engagement with an intake conduit, the upper part of said larger member being bent inwardly and secured to the next inner member closing the space therebetween, and said next inner member extending below the point of securement to define a socket for the upper end of the intake conduit.

4. In a mounting device for an intake silencer, a plurality of concentric tubular members connected together, and means carried by one of said members to hold a silencer removably mounted on the device, there being an annular space between two of said members with an opening at the upper part of said space to communicate with the interior of the silencer.

5. In a mounting for a resonator intake silencer, means for attaching the mounting alone to an intake conduit, said mounting including a pair of concentric tubular members connected together, means on said members to carry a silencer, and said members being arranged for communication of the space therebetween with the resonating chamber of the silencer, the arrangement being such that any one of a change in the length of said space, the width of said space, and the size of the communication between the space and: resonating chamber will result in a change in tuning of the resonating chamber.

6. In combination, an intake silencer having a resonating chamber therein defined in part by spaced walls. having aligned openings therein with gasket engaging formations around said openings, and a unitary and initially separate mountin device including a plurality of concentric tubular members one of which is arranged for connection with an air intake, all except the innermost of said tubular member being turned in at the top thereof and secured tothe next inner member in a manner to define a gasket seat, and one of said members being arranged to provide. an opening from the space between itself and another member to said resonating chamber when the silencer is disposed on said mounting.

'7. In combination, an air cleaner and silencer unit comprising separable sections defining a central downward outlet, one of said sections including a resonator chamber, and a unitary and initially separate mounting device separately connectable to an air intake, said device including a pair of concentric tubular members arranged with a space therebetween and arranged to establish communication between said space and said resonator chamber, and means car ried by one of said tubular members to hold said unit on said device and the sections of said unit together.

8. In combination, a resonator type intake silencer including a casing defining a silencing chamber between the bottom of the casing and a partitionspaced thereabove, said bottom and said partition having central openings and said chamber being open therebetween, and a mounting device for connecting said silencer with an intake and including three concentric tubular members secured together, one of said members closing said chamber between the partition and bottom, there being a space between said one member and an adjacent member and there being an opening establishing communication between said space and said chamber, and seats carried by certain of said members upon which said partition and said bottom may rest.

9. In combination, a resonator intake silencer 8. including a metallic casing enclosing a sound attenuating chamber defined in part by the casing bottom which is provided with a central opening, and a mounting device including spaced concentric metallic tubular members secured to-' gether to extend through said opening, there being an opening establishing communication between the space between said members and said chamber, a shoulder formation on the outer of said members, a non-metallic gasket on said formation, and means to removably hold said silencer on said mounting device with said bottom seated on said gasket out of metal to metal contact with said mounting device.

10. In combination, a resonator type intake silencer including a casing defining a silencing chamber between the bottom of the casing and a partition spaced thereabove, said bottom and said partition having central openings and said chamber being open therebetween, and a mounting device for connecting said silencer with an intake and including three concentric tubular members secured together, one of said members closing said chamber between the partition and bottom, there being a space between said one member and an adjacent member and there being an opening establishing communication between said space and said chamber, a pair of spaced shoulder formations carried by said members, non-metallic gaskets on said formations, and means to removably hold the silencer on said mounting device with said partition and said bottom seated on said gaskets out of direct contact with any part of said mounting device.

JOSEPH B. SEBOK.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 2,026,795 O-ldberg Jan. 7, 1936 2,046,093 Schaaf et a1. June 30, 1936 2,064,207 Jacobs 1 Dec. 15, 1936 2,080,988 Schulz May 18, 1937' 2,126,643 Kamrath Aug. 9, 1938 2,143,350 Kainrath Jan. 10, 1939 FOREIGN PATENTS Number Country Date 472,452 Great Britain Sept. 23, 1937 

